Hermann biermann



(No Model.)

E H. BIERMANN. ARRANGEMENT FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS 0N RAILWAYS.

No. 596,047.- Patented Dec. 28, 1897.

W. fi mly/44 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN BIERMANN, OF BRESLAU, GERMANY.

ARRANGEMENT FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,047, dated December28, 1897. Application filed March 20, 1896. Renewed May 21, 1897.$e1'lal No. 637,625. (No model.)

merchant, of Paradiesstrasse, Breslau, in

the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented new and usefulImprovements in an Arrangement for Preventing Accidents on Railroadswith Running Trains in Case of Breaking of Axles, wheels, or Springs, of

which the following is a specification.

By this invention there is provided apparatus for the prevention ofrailway-trains leaving the rails. I

In carrying out this invention regard has been had to the fact that, inthe case of wheels or axles breaking the carriage slightly drops at thepart where the breakage has taken place.

According to this invention each of the Wheel-axles is surrounded by aforked frame bearing two running-rollers which are so arranged as tocome slightly above the rail 'when the train is in motion and only tocome in contact with the rail when the carriage drops in consequence ofbreakage of awheel or axle. The rollers then serve as supports for thecarriage, thus enabling the carriage to travel a short distance fartheron the rail when theaccident takes place. At the same time they alsoactuate an electric apparatus which is connected with an alarm applianceand also with the brake or with the enginedrivers lever.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 shows the apparatus attached toa'railWay-carriage; Fig. 2, a View of the forked frame; Fig. 3, thearrangement of the electric contact; and Fig.

4, the connection between the frame, the alarm appliance, and theair-brake.

With reference to the drawings, a denotes the frame, which is arrangedin a strong and long guide-box c by means of a pin 1), the box beingarranged at the bottom of the carriage above the wheel-axle. The pin brests on the box iby means of a ring cl and holds the frame a, with itsrunning-rollers f, slightly above the rail. In adjusting the rollers theoscillation of the body of the carriage on its springs must be takeninto consideration, and there must therefore be some provision by whichthe position of the rollers f can be altered vertically. When thecarriage drops slightly in consequence of the breakage of a wheel oraxle, the running-rollers f come into contact with the rail. Therunning-rollers are so strongly constructed that they enable the trainto travel on for a short distance and prevent the carriage from fallingover. As soon as the running-rollers f come into contact with the railthe dropping of the carriage at the same time causes a spring electriccontact g, arranged at the bottom of the carriage, to be closed by meansof the pin b, so that the current of an electric circuit 2', fed by anaccumulator-battery h or some similar arrangement,is brought intoaction. In the circuitt'an alarm apparatus 70 and a motorl are provided.The shaft of the engine Zhas a toothed wheel m, which gears into atoothed. quadrant 0, which is connected with the lever n of theair-brake. There may also be inserted in the electric circuit 2' a meansof working the engine-drivers lever or other appliance.

The above-described device acts in case of Wheel and axle breaking aswell as in spring breaking.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patcut, is--- In an arrangement for preventing accidents onrailroads the combination of forked frames provided with rollers andsurrounding the wheel-axles and engaging with the rails in case ofwheel, axle or spring breaking with an electric circuit in the train andconnected with safety and alarm apparatuses; said electric circuitincluding a contact device adapted to be operated by the forked frame asand for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

' HERMANN BIERMANN. Witnesses:

EWALD BoEHM, HERRMANN PFARTSCH.

